Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

We are all going to experience "ism(s) in our own life. I have been around several people in the past who have been racist and it was very hard for me to listen to and watch specific behavior. Growing up, one of my parents were racist and I was told that I was not allowed to have "Black" friends and that I was never allowed to bring a "Black" man home to date. I was never racist, I love all people regardless of the color of their skin. As a professional, I will not have tolerance for racism in my classroom. I think every educator will encounter children/families that have racial viewpoints. It is important we learn how to deal with those types of situations. Racism has always divided people and it continues to do so. As an anti-bias professional- one of my goals will be to embrace diversity and to teach diversity in my classroom. I want my students to know that each of us are all different and that there is a need to celebrate our differences rather then look down upon them. "
In an anti-bias classroom, children learn to be proud of themselves and of their families, to respect human differences, and to recognize bias and speak up for what is right (Sparks, & Edwards, 2010)."

As a professional, I anticipate some of the families fearing that their children will be picked on/teased/bullied because of the color of their child's skin. I want them to be reassured that I will not allow this type of behavior in my classroom. Everyone is going to feel loved, safe, and we are all going to know the meaning of respect from the first day of class! Every child deserves to feel loved!